Annie: 12 days of Christmas items add up to be quite pricey

DEAR READERS: A Merry Christas to one and all. Here’s an interesting take on the following well-known song, figures courtesy of the PNC Christmas Price Index:

“The Twelve Days of Christmas”

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree (cost: $184.99, an increase of 14.2 percent from last year).

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves ($125, an increase of 25 percent), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, three French hens ($150, no increase), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, four calling birds ($519.96, those actually decreased 13.3 percent), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five gold rings ($645, believe it or not, a decrease of 0.8 percent), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, six geese-a-laying ($162, an increase of 8 percent), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99),

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300, expensive to begin with, they went up 12.5 percent), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight maids-a-milking ($58, still at minimum wage), seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, nine ladies dancing ($6,294.03, no increase in salary), eight maids-a-milking ($58), seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 10 lords-a-leaping ($4,766.70, no increase), nine ladies dancing ($6,294.03), eight maids-a-milking ($58), seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).